Commercial vehicle registrations: +3.7% over eight months; -0.03% in August

Brussels, 21 September 2017 – August 2017 results show a slowdown in EU demand for commercial vehicles (-0.03%) after July’s upsurge (+4.0%).

Total new commercial vehicles

August 2017 results show a slowdown in EU demand for commercial vehicles (-0.03%) after July’s upsurge (+4.0%). The various segments performed differently, with demand for buses increasing strongly (+17.8%) while registrations of new trucks declined (-2.9%). Among the major markets, Spain and France recorded the highest percentage gains (+20.5% and +14.5% respectively), but the Italian market saw a substantial fall in demand (-22.9%).

Over eight months in 2017, EU demand maintained momentum. With 1.6 million new commercial vehicles registered, the market went up by 3.7%. Spain had the strongest growth over the period (+15.3%), followed by France (+7.4%), Italy (+2.2%) and Germany (+1.8%). By contrast, demand for new commercial vehicles contracted by 2.6% in the United Kingdom.

New light commercial vehicles (LCV) up to 3.5 tonnes

In August 2017, registrations of new light commercial vehicles in the EU totalled 123,553 units – so, more or less stable when compared to August last year. Results were diverse among the five big markets, with Germany (-3.1%) and Italy in particular (-23.3%) posting declines. The Spanish and French markets, on the other hand, recorded the strongest performances (+21.6% and +16.1% respectively).

Eight months into the year, roughly 1.3 million new vans were registered in the European Union, up 4.3% compared to the same period one year ago. Spain (+17.1%), France (+8.0%) and Germany (+2.7%) performed well, the United Kingdom (-2.8%) was the only major market with falling demand.

New heavy commercial vehicles (HCV) over 16 tonnes

In August 2017, demand for heavy commercial vehicles declined slightly compared to one year ago. A total of 18,381 new heavy trucks were registered across the EU, 2.3% less than in August 2016. The Spanish, French and German markets did very well – up 9.5%, 8.0% and 7.6% respectively – but demand for heavy trucks fell strongly in Italy (-17.7%) and the UK (-22.1%).

So far in 2017, the EU market increased modestly (+1.2%), totalling 192,883 HCVs registered. Results were diverse among the major markets, with Italy recording the highest growth (+16.4%) despite a decline in August and demand remaining stable in Germany (-0.1%) and the United Kingdom (-0.2%).

New medium and heavy commercial vehicles (MHCV) over 3.5 tonnes

August 2017 figures show that EU demand for new trucks fell compared to August 2016 (-3.1%), reaching 23,476 units registered. Similarly to the HCV segment, the Italian and UK markets posted double-digit declines (down
-24.9% and -17.3% respectively), while sales in Germany, France and Spain increased by 1.2%, 4.6% and 12.4%.

From January to August 2017, 239,739 new trucks were registered in the EU, only 0.8% more than last year. Just like in the HCV segment, Italy (+14.3%) and France (+5.1%) performed well, but truck registrations went down in Germany (-1.1%).

New medium and heavy buses & coaches (MHBC) over 3.5 tonnes

In August 2017, 3,967 new buses and coaches were registered across the region, significantly up compared to August last year (+17.8%). Demand contracted in the UK (-1.3%) and Germany (-2.8%), but the Italian (+31.3%) and Spanish (+16.7%) markets posted strong results.

Over eight months in 2017, the EU bus and coach market grew by 3.2%, counting 26,318 new vehicles registered. Demand decreased in France (-11.4%) and the United Kingdom (-11.1%), but new bus and coach registrations went up in Italy (+43.1%), Spain (+18.0%) and Germany (+6.6%).